Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on X @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
-
SSA Marine said its port would be just south of the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway and would complement Port Tampa Bay's operations. The land is on an environmentally sensitive island, worrying advocates. -
County Commissioner Ken Hagan said he's confident the Rays can work out a deal to build a stadium on the North Dale Mabry campus. If not, he told WDAE, don't be surprised if they end up in Orlando. -
Baseball's annual reset is almost here. The schedule has a few tweaks this year with the World Baseball Classic and Spring Breakout for prospects. Here's a quick info bank on the when, where and how much. -
Dr. Carlos Abanses of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa offers guidance on prevention, symptoms, vaccines, fever fears, hydration and when to get emergency care. -
The facility — the first completed project of Moffitt's 775-acre Speros innovation hub — will be part of a growing and competitive cancer-care market in the Tampa Bay region. -
The outbreak occurred on Holland America's Rotterdam during a voyage from Dec. 28 to Jan. 9. The cruise line notified the CDC on Jan. 8 after passengers and crew began reporting gastrointestinal illness. -
The free event will be staged along 16th Street South while repairs and renovations continue to prepare the hurricane-damaged stadium for the April 6 home opener. -
In Florida alone, smokers face nearly $3.8 million in lifetime costs — including cigarette purchases, health care, lost income and missed investment gains, according to a new report from WalletHub. -
According to the state, 92.2% of students earned a diploma in 2024-25 – 2.5 points over the previous year and 4.9 points over 2021-22. The progress was celebrated at the district level, including the Tampa area. -
The conversation features insights from longtime local political journalist William March, PolitiFact Florida government reporter Sam Putterman and WUSF politics/environment reporter Steve Newborn.
